How to beat travel nerves – Our top advice

How to beat travel nerves – Our top advice

Stressed out, scared, nervous, and ready to fall apart at the seems? These are not descriptions that should be associated with traveling. Traveling should be a fun and new experience for everyone. Here are some tips on how to deal with the stresses, and overcome the nerves you might feel when traveling.

Ask for help

It is normal for many people to feel stressed and helpless while traveling. Most of the time you are in a place that you are unfamiliar with, and in some cases you may not know anyone around you. It is always O.K. to ask for help! The security guards, the people sitting at the information desks, even the locals will usually be able and willing to help out an eager traveler. No question is a stupid question, and people will not look down on you for asking for help.

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe

Long lines, screaming kids, you just lost your keys, and no one is listening to you…? That is enough to make anyone go crazy. Even in the most dizzying circumstances first thing is first is to breathe. I will share a breathing trick for you that always works for me. Take a deep breathe and count for 3 seconds, hold it for 3 seconds, and breathe out for 3 seconds, and do this 3 times. This trick helps you regulate your breathing, and makes you focus on counting to three instead of everything else. It gives you the chance to take a step back and look at the situation around you.

Read or listen to music. (Keep Busy)

The most basic way to feel better about the stresses of travel is to make yourself preoccupied. Listening to soothing music is always a great way to reduce stress and nerves. Music gives you something else to focus on and distracts you. It is best to listen to feel-good music. If you are a reader, take a book with you! Reading usually takes you into a a different place, so while you are stressing pick up a book and forget about your worries.

Never hurts to Double Check

It never hurts to double check that you have everything you need. In fact in some cases, it’s a very good idea to double check. Make sure you always have all of your documents.

Passports, and confirmations are very important to always have. If you lose those documents you might be in stranded, in trouble, or more. For parents; make sure that you still have your kids. Kids like to run around, and play games. It’s O.K. for children to have fun, but when the plane is boarding and Jimmy is missing that just creates stress, and possible problems for missing flights. You can always check to make sure you have your money. DO NOT COUNT YOUR MONEY IN PUBLIC! Make sure when you are doing the money double-check it is somewhere private.

Trust your instincts

There is danger a foot every where in this world. I am not saying to have your mace out all the time and ready to attack anyone. And do not be terrified of everyone and everything. But, usually your first instinct about someone is right- trust that instinct. If there is a guy in an alley way at night trying to talk to you, keep moving. There are some extra precautions you can take just to be safe. If you are not staying at a hotel and you’re taking a taxi, have him drop you off a few doors down from where you are staying. Wear a money pouch (not a fanny pack, a money pouch is worn under your clothes). If your really worried about safety I suggest signing up for some defense classes, it’s a good work out and prepares you for the worst.

Be open. Be open. Be open

In some cases you are traveling to a place you are not familiar with or do not know as well. There are differences in every part of this world, no two cultures or areas are the same. In order to fully enjoy your experience be open to new things. Eat what the locals eat, do what the locals do. Trust me on this, you will learn more at eating at a local cafe than at a McDonalds.